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Wednesday, 26 August 2015

Sendai nuclear plant operator set to plug leaks in 5 cooling system pipes

SATSUMA-SENDAI, Kagoshima
Prefecture--The operator of the recently reactivated Sendai nuclear
power plant here said it had pinpointed the sites of leaks that
forced a postponement of full reactor operations.

Kyushu Electric Power Co. said it detected tiny cracks in five
narrow pipes that carry seawater used to cool steam. The pipes are
part of the steam condenser at the No. 1 reactor, which resumed
operation on Aug. 11.
Output will be maintained at 75 percent of capacity, while the
utility carries out checks for further holes.
Kyushu Electric was expected to release a final report on the
glitch on Aug. 25. At the same time, it said fully restored reactor
operations will be postponed from the scheduled date of Aug. 25.
The regional utility detected a tiny amount of seawater leaked
into one of three condensers in the secondary cooling system of the
reactor, which has an output of 890 megawatts, on Aug. 20.
The seawater was flowing in the condenser, a device that converts
steam used in power generation to water by cooling it, and became
mixed with the secondary cooling water that does not contain
radioactive materials.
Kyushu Electric suspended operations of one of the two water
circulation channels through the condenser at issue and inspected
narrow pipes forming the system by passing an electric current
through it.
Technicians found miniscule holes in five of 13,000 pipes they had
inspected as of 10 a.m. on Aug. 24. After inspecting all the pipes,
the workers will repair the faulty bits.
Kyushu Electric said the seawater was removed with a desalination
device and operations at the No. 1 reactor were not hindered.
The reactor was restarted earlier this month for the first time
since it was shut down for a periodic inspection in May 2011.
Opponents of the plant have voiced safety concerns
Source: Asahi Shimbun http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201508250046